Over 200 people attended the Arangetram of Saudamini Gadgil. She  presented her Bharatanatyam Dance Debut on July 1 2006 at the Littleton High School in Little , MA. Saudamini is a graduate of Westborough High School. She is currently attending New York University. She is 18 years old and lives in Westborough.

Saudamini began learning BharatNatyam at the age of 4 in India under the tutelage of Smt. Shruti Kolgaokar. She moved to Westborough in 2000 and began taking lessons from Smt. Sridevi Thirumalai. She has been learning under her for 6 years.

Saudamini was accompanied by Sri Mysore Srinath, the vocalist, Sri Narsimha Ramamurthy on the Mridangam, and Sri Hari Rangaswamy on the flute.

The invocatory piece ,Pushpanjali was in the Raga Amritavarshini and Talam Adi. Pushpanjali literally means “offering of flowers”. Performed at the beginning of a recital, the dancer seeks the blessings of Lord Nataraja, the Guru and the audience. This was followed by Ganesha Stuti in the Raga Mohana. This song, sung in praise of Lord Ganesha described the elephant-headed god as the remover of all obstacles and the giver of knowledge and success.

Next came Swara Solakattu in Raga Thodi and Talam Rupaka which was a pure dance (nritta) piece, rich in rhythmic patterns and intricate footwork.Soudamini then presented the famous Dikshitar Kriti Kachadalayadakshi in Raga Kamalamanohari and Talam Adi. This dance piece was in praise of Goddess Kamakshi who is said to be endowed with a moon-like face, lotus eyes and is the most beautiful in the three worlds. She is hailed as the protector of the universe and bestows boons to her ardent devotees.

The Varnam is the central, most elaborate and difficult item of a Bharathanatyam program. As the piece de resistance, it brings out the best in pure dance as well as abhinaya (facial expression).

She presented a Varnam, in Raga Charukeshi and Adi Talam, on Lord Krishna. The nayika or heroine complains of Krishna’s lack of recognition and reciprocity to her love. She describes her love for him in terms of her dedication, her constant thoughts, her need and her ultimate dependence on him. She fervently waits for the Lord to come to her.

In the second half Soudamini presented Bho Shambo in Ragam Revathi , a Murgan Padam in Ragam Kambhoji, the Mishrapeelu Bhajan Tumaka Chalata and concluded with a Poornachandrika Tillana.

“Soudamini worked very hard to make this presentation happen and I am so pleased with her work “ said her Guru Sridevi Thirumalai . The arangetram was simply a delight to watch.

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